Officials said the attack occurred in the village called Malinawaon in Mawab town where soldiers had previously clashed with New People’s Army rebels.

“Our soldiers were patrolling the village when the rebels detonated a bomb and killed one officer,” said Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Santiago, a spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division.

He said the attack sparked a 10-minute firefight that also killed or wounded a still undetermined number of rebels. “The lone army casualty was a lieutenant in the army,” he said, but it was unknown whether the slain soldier’s family has been informed about the ambush.

The attack coincided as rebel leaders are negotiating peace with Manila in an effort to end decades of bloody secessionist war in the country. Despite the peace talks, both sides have not signed a cease-fire agreement and clashes still continue in many parts of the largely Catholic country. (Mindanao Examiner)